It seemed so reasonable a fear, and I was so anxious about the cattle, that I ordered the foreman there and then to turn the herd quietly loose, explained to the neighbours my reasons for doing so, but allowed them to cut out what few cattle they had in the herd: and the year's work was thus at once abandoned.

All that winter was a very anxious time.

Reports came in from neighbouring ranches that their cattle were dying in hundreds.

On driving through their pastures the loco appeared eaten to the ground; all the cattle were after it, and poor, staggering, crazy animals were met on the road without sense enough to get out of your way.

By the end of next spring some of my neighbours had few cattle left to round-up.